Station announcer and advertising medium



April 6, 1937. A. PARTMAN ET Al. 2,076,206

STATION ANNOUNCER AND ADVERTISING MEDIUM Filed oct. 17, 1935 3 sheefs-sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

April 6, 1937. A. PARTMAN ET AL 2,076,206

` STATION ANNOUNCER AND ADVERTISING MEDIUM l Filed Oct. 17, 1955 A :5 sheets-sheet 2 fw 23 o 24 26 Z9 Anfon Panl/:VER B YAndrew P//hc//rl Jr ATTORNEY.

April 6, 1937. A. PARTMAN ET Al.

STATION ANNOUNCER AND ADVERTISING MEDIUM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OCT.. 17. 1935 INVENTORS Antan Par ma@ & BY/lndrew P//hc// ./z

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE STATION ANNOUNCER AND ADVERTISING MEDIUM Application October 17, 1935, Serial No. 45,462

20 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a device for automatically indicating stations on railway trains and the like and particularly on subways, which operates by a Contact or other 5 means as a train travels from one station to another and thereby indicates the name of the station toward which the train is travelling.

The invention is a station indicating device having the names of stations arranged on a stationary tape or band or on interchangeable bands and these may be read from either side and these bands are operated by a relay which is in turn operated by a contact or the like which is made between the track and the train and which operates automatically.

Many devices have been provided for indicating stations, particularly on subways, but these devices are operated by the closing of a door or by a switch or by some mechanical device on the car in which the device is installed and as a train may stop and start several times or may open and close a door several times these devices have not proved satisfactory and therefore have not been used. It is necessary, in a device of this nature, that the device be fool proof and also that it only operates as the train actually passes from one station to another and does not repeat its operation if the train stops and starts between the stations. Another fallacy in devices of this nature is in the fact that it is substantially impossible to change the route as practically all conveyances of this nature must be installed on each individual car and therefore must operate independently and as these cars are regularly shifted from one route to another it is very essential that the station indicating device is readily interchangeable from one route to another.

The object of this invention is therefore to provide a station indicating device for railroads and the like which only operates as the train passes from one station to another and which indicating means is interchangeable.

Another object is to provide an operating mechanism for a station indicating device which is f influenced by a device on the track without objectionable parts projecting from either the train or track.

A further object is to provide a station indicating device in combination with advertising in which each are automatically operated, and independent.

And a still further object is to provide a station indicating device that is relatively fool proof, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these ends in view the invention embodies a casing adapted to be inserted in the intermediate part of a subway train or at any point in a car or the like having a band therein similar to a music roll of a player piano in which the band may be readily interchangeable, electrical means operating the band step by step to indicate different stations, advertising compartments having a continuous band with advertising therein and means operating the advertising bands independent of the station indicating device.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view showing a front elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is an end elevation with the upper advertising cabinet shown in section.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the advertising cabinet.

Figure 4 is a detail showing a method of contact, between the device and track.

Figure 5 is a similar detail showing an alternate method in which the primary and secondary of a transformer are used to operate the device.

Figure 6 is a similar detail showing a method of operating the device by light beams.

Figure 7 is a cross section through the central part of the device.

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the intermediate partition with the ends of the rollers on the sides thereof.

Figure 9 is a detail showing an alternate design in which a plurality of rollers may be installed in the upper end with each having a diierent route thereon so that either may be used.

Figure 10 is a detail showing the mounting of the upper roller upon which the band is held.

Figure 11 is a View showing the relay operating mechanism for moving the band step by step'.

Figure 12 is a view showing a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a detail showing the method of attaching the free end of the band to the lower roller.

Figure 14 is a detail showing a clutch mechanism for controlling the operating rollers.

In the drawings the device is shown as it may be made wherein numeral l indicates the central compartment in which the indicating band is located, and numerals 2 and 3 side compartments containing advertising.

The central compartment l is preferably made as shown in Figure 7 with a cover plate 4 at one side, and a similar plate 5 at the other, both of which are hinged to the bottom as shown at the points 3 and l. These plates are provided with recesses 3 and il and windows l0 and ll are formed in the recesses and positioned so that the names of the stations on the band I2 may readily be observed through these windows. Each of the recesses 8 and 9 is provided with a reflecting hood I3 having a light i4 therein-for reflecting light downward upon the band through the windows l0 and il. It will be understood however that any other means may be provided for lighting the band. Switches may be provided above the lights with contact points I5 positioned on the housing and engaging points I6 on the plates 4 and 5 so that the lights I4 may be mounted in the cover plates and as the plates are opened and closed the circuits will be broken and completed. It will be understood however that the switches may be arranged at any point or points and contacts through the lights may be arranged in any manner and also that circuits may be provided for connecting these lights to any suitable source of electric current and these may be arranged in any manner. The device may also be provided with an auxiliary switch l? by which the lights may be turned on and off and it will be understood that one switch only may be provided as shown in Figure '7 or similar switches may be provided in each side of the casing if desired.

In the design shown the housing l is formed in two sections with a partition i3 between the sections and bands with suitable rollers are provided in each side. The cover plates 4 and 5 are also provided with two windows in each side and blinds i9 and 2E! may be slidably mounted in the recesses 8 and 9 on rods 2l and 22 so that these blinds may be moved along the rods from one side to the other to cover the windows respectively. Therefore, if a car in which this device is installed is used on two routes only it is possible to readily change from one route to the other by moving the blind from one side to the other. If a car is only used on one route then one section may be omitted as only one band will be required, or if interchangeable bands are used it may only be desired to use one section, and also if different bands are provided on rollers as shown in Figure 9 it may also be desired to use only one section.

In the design shown the band l2 is provided on an upper roller 23 which is mounted on a shaft 24 and this shaft may extend through the partition IB so that one of these rollers may be provided in each side. And this shaft may be connected by a belt, or chain 25 to a lower shaft 26 through sprockets or pulleys 2 and 23 and the lower roller 29 is mounted upon this shaft. This chain causes both the upper and lower roller to rotate at the same speed and the difference in the length of travel of the band l2 caused by the difference in diameter, between an empty and a full roller, is taken up by idler pulleys 3l] and 3| mounted in brackets 32 and 33 at the sides of the housing and these brackets are pivotally mounted on shafts 34 and 35 and resiliently held against the band by springs 35 and 3l. It will be understood that these brackets may be arranged in any manner and also that the idler pulleys may be mounted in any manner so that they will bear against the band l2 and take up the slack therein. From the upper pulley 23 the band passes downward over the pulley 30 and then over another idler 33 and from there to the drive roller 39 which, in the design shown, is provided with pins 43 that t into holes 4l in the edges of the bands and as these pulleys are positively driven in either direction they move the band l2 with a positive movement and as the band is drawn olf of the upper pulley it rotates the pulley. The upper pulley is also connected to the lower pulley by the chain 25 and this therefore causes the lower pulley to rotate and wind up the band. When it is desired to move the band upward this action is reversed so that the band is continually wound and unwound by the action of the pulley 39 and the slack is taken up by the idler pulleys 3l] and 3l. It will be understood that this is only a typical mounting as any other means may be used for operating the band. The pulley 38 is preferably mounted in sliding blocks 42 in bearings 43 and these blocks are resiliently held downward by springs 44 in openings 45, and when it is desired to change the band the pulley 38 may readily be raised to provide ample space between it and the pulley 39.

The pulleys 39 are mounted on a shaft 46 which extends through the end of the compartment l as shown in Figure 12 and on the outer end of the shaft is a cam wheel 4l and also a ratchet wheel 48. The cam wheel 41 is provided with recesses 43 at 90 degree intervals and a pawl 5B is provided which is resiliently held against the wheel 47 by a spring 5l and this 1ocates the wheel 4l and holds it in the proper position so that it is assured of making a quarter of a turn with each stroke of the operating device. It will be noted that the pins 40 on the pulley 39 are positioned at right angles or at 90 degree intervals so that as this roller is moved one quarter of a turn it will move the tape the distance of one quarter of the circumference and the distance between the names of the stations on the band is equal to this distance. 'Ihe ratchet 48 is operated by pawls 52 and 53 and these are pivotally mounted on the ends of a rocker arm 54 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 55 and the pawls 52 and 53 are resiliently held inward by the ends 53 and 5l of a spring mounted upon the arm 54. It will be noted that the upper ends of the pawls 52 and 53 bear against th-e surface of the ratchet 4S and as each ratchet is moved upward the other will move downward and the upward moving pawl will rotate the shaft one quarter of a turn; and it will be noted that each pawl will rotate the shaft in the opposite direction so that one pawl may be used with av train travelling in one direction and the other pawl may be used with a train travelling in the opposite direction, so that the band may be moved downward with the train travelling in one direction and then moved upward or returned to the normal position when the train is returning. It will be understood that this is only one arrangem-ent as any means may be used for reversing the direction of travel and the ratchet may be operated in any manner. It will also be understood that this action may be accomplished by a ratchet and ,pawl of any other type or description and this may be arranged in-any manner.

The pawls 52 and 53 are operated by solenoids 58 and 59 which are mounted in U shaped brackets Gil and 6l and these are pivotally mounted in bushings 52 in the partition or end of the housing 63, by bolts 64. It will also be understood that these solenoids may be mounted in any other manner. The cores E5 and 6B of` the solenoids are connected to the ends of the rocker arm 54 by links 6l and 68 and these are resiliently held downward by springs 69 and lil.

The rollers 39 are slidable on the shaft 46 andeach roller is provided with a groove 1| into which a pin 12 on a lever 13 may extend, and the lever 13 is pivotally mounted in a bearing 14 so that one end extends outward through an opening 15 in the cover plate 5 at one side of the housing. The lever 13 may be resiliently held by a spring 16 or any suitable means. The opposite ends of the rollers 39 are provided with projections 11 which extend into notches 18 in collars, 19 which are fixedly mounted on a shaft 46 and it will be noted that as the levers 13 are moved in one direction the projections 11 will slide into the notches 18 thereby engaging the rollers with the shaft so `that the rollers will turn therewith and when the lever 13 is moved in the opposite direction it will draw the roller away from the collar and thereby disengage the roller from the shaft. It will be understood that any other type of clutch may be used or any other means may be used for engaging and disengaging the roller with the shaft.

The lower ends of the bands I2 maybe formed as shown in Figure 13 so that extensions 80 thereof may be held over clips 8| on the rollers 29. This is only a typical method of attaching the ends of the bands to the rollers and it will be understood that any means: may be used. It will also be understood that any number of rollers may be provided inl the top of the housing as shown in Figure 9 and each roller may contain a different route so that the lower end thereof may be drawn downward and connected to the lower roller when the car is travelling over that route. 'I'hese rollers may be iixedly mounted in the housing or they may be mounted as shown in Figure 10 in which a spring pin 82 is provided which extends into an opening 83 in the end of the roller and the opposite end of the roller may be provided with a gear ratchet 86|V which may engage a corresponding ratchet 85 on a shaft 86 and the upper sprocket 21 may be mounted on the shaft 86 so that this roller will be driven by the lower roller or vice versa. The end of the roller may also be provided with a pin 81 adapted to fit into a recess 88 in the end of the shaft 86 as shown 5 in Figure l0.

Advertisements may be placed in the compartments 2 and 3 and these may show through windows 80 in the sides of the compartments and it will be understood that these advertisements may be stationary or may be mounted upon a continuous belt or may be arranged in any manner to show continuous advertisements, or any number of advertisements.

In the design shown advertisements are mounted upon a continuous belt 90' which is mounted upon rollers 9|, 92, 93. 94, 95, and it will be noted that the device is driven through the roller 9| and the roller 93 is mounted `in sliding bearings 96 and held by springs 91 so that it will take up slack or wear in the belt. Advertisements may be permanenly mounted upon the belt or may be held in pockets therein or attached to the belt in any manner or by any means. It will also be understood that the belt may be driven by any means. In the design shown the upper end of the pulley 9| is provided with a gear 98 which meshes with a gear 99 on a shaft |00 and the shaft is provided with a sprocket or pulley |0I and a chain or belt |02 extends downward over a sprocket or` pulley |03 on a motor |04. The motor therefore drives the shaft |00 which extends across the central part of the device as shown in Figure 1 and the gears 99 on the ends thereof operate the continuous belts 90 upon which the advertisements may be placed. This is only a typical arrangement and it will be understood that any arrangement may be used.

This device may be operated by any means, however, it is preferred to provide a contact or means whereby a circuit may be completed by a member in the car being inuenced by a member on the track, and the member on the track is preferably located just beyond the station so that the device will automatically operate as the train leaves the station and turn the band so that the next station will appear through the windows.

In the design shown in Figure 4 a truck |05 of a car is indicated with a contact arm |06 at one side adapted to engage a contact member |01 on a block |08 at one side of the track and the member |01 is arranged so that the contact point |09 may engage the surface thereof with the train travelling in either direction. The member |06 may be pivotally mounted as shown at the point |0 and provided with a spring resiliently urging the lower end thereof toward the member |01. This provides a positive contact and as hereinbefore suggested this is only a typical arrangement as any means may be used for providing a contact.

In the design shown in Figure 5 the primary winding of a transformer is placed on the track as indicated by the numeral ||2 and the secondary winding is placed on the lower side of the operate a switch or relay to complete a circuit;

and in the design shown in Figure 6 a light beam may be provided from a lamp ||4 in a stand I5 at one side of the track and this may extend under the car so that it may strike a photo-electric cell ||6 under the car and the photo-electric cell may complete the circuit. It is understood that this is also only typical as these parts may be arranged at any point or points either in the car or on the track and any means may be provided for closing a circuit to operate the relays to move the band |2.

The device may also be provided with a bell, or other means for indicating or announcing that the station or street name has been changed. In Figure 11, a bell ||1 is shown mounted in the i casing, however, this bell may be located on the outside of the casing, or bells may be used at any point o-r points. In this design the bell is electrically operated by a contact member I8 which is mounted on a spring ||9 with a roller I 20 positioned to engage the cam wheel 41, and as this wheel turns in either direction it will move the contact ||8 against the contact |2| and cornplete a` circuit through the bell clapper operating means in the box |22. The circuit may be connected to a battery or any means for supplying electric current. It will also be understood that although this bell or alarm is shown as electrically operated. it may be operated by mechanical, or other means, and operated by any part or parts of the device.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of a housing or case of any other type or design, another may be in the use of the device for announcing or indicating anything else except the names of stations, another may be in the use of other means for operating the tape or band, another may 5 from the foregoing description.

be in the omission of the advertising cabinets,

and still another may be in the use of advertisements of any other type or design.

The construction will be readily understood In use the device may be provided as shown and described, and where a car or train is commonly used over two routes the device may be made as shown in Figure 1 and as it travels over one route the cover plates I9 and 20 may be placed over the windows corresponding with the other route and then when it is changed, the plates may be moved along the rods 2| and 22 so that the second route will be exposed. Where the device is used in cars or trains travelling on one route continuously, one half of the cabinet may be omitted and only one band may be used and this design may also be used where an interchangeable roller is provided which is similar to the music roller of a player piano and the band from the roller may be threaded downward through the rollers as shown in Figure 7 with the lower end hooked over the roller 29 at the bottom. This design may also be used where several rollers are mounted at the top as shown in Figure 9 and th-e band from each roller may be threaded downward through the machine when it is desired to use the car on the route indicated on the band thereof. The device may therefore be used in cars or 30 trains travelling over a plurality of routes, and the rollers for the different routes may either be mounted in the upper end or provided in combination with the device so that they may readily be changed as desired.

The advertising may also be permanently mounted upon the device or may be placed on continuous belts as shown and different advertisements may be mounted upon the belts in any manner. It is preferred to operate the advertising belts independent of the station announcing device, therefore a separate motor is provided so that the belts will run continuously whereas the station indicating device only operates between stations.

.45 Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A station indicating device comprising a casing adapted to be installed in cars, windows in the sides of the casing, a band adapted to move upward and downward between the windows with indicia thereon adapted to be exposed through the windows, a roller in the upper part of the casing upon which the upper end of the band is mounted, another roller in the lower part of the casing upon which the lower end of the band is mounted, a continuous belt passing over said rollers causing both rollers to rotate together, a feed roller positioned substantially midway between the upper and lower rollers and over which the band passes, said feed roller adapted to draw the band from one roller and feed it to the other, a relay adapted to operate said feed roller a distance equal to the dista-nce between indicia on said band and means closing a circuit to operate said relay as a car upon which the device is mounted passes over a certain point in a track.

2. A device as described in claim 1 having advertisements upon said casing. ..0 3. A device as described in claim l having advertisements at both sides of said casing and adapted to be read from both the front and back thereof.

4. A device as described in claim 1 having advertising compartments at the sides of said casing with windows in both sides of said compartments and advertisements mounted on continuously operating belts in said compartments.

5. A device as described in claim 1 having advertising compartments at the sides of said casing with windows in both sides of said compartments and advertisements mounted on continuously operating belts in said compartments, and characterized in that the advertising belts are operated independent of the station announcing band.

6. A device as described in claim 1 characterized in that the band is provided with openings and the feed roller provided with pins registering with said openings for moving said band.

7. A device as described in claim 1 in which the operating means for th-e feed roller is adapted to operate the roller in either direction.

8. A device as described in claim 1 characterized in that a toothed wheel is mounted on the end of thefeed roller and ratchet pawls mounted on a rocker arm are provided to engage the teeth on said wheel with one pawl adapted to operate the roller one quarter of a turn in one direction and the other one quarter of a turn in the opposite direction and with independent relays for operating said rocker arm iirst in one direction and then in the other.

9. A device as described in claim 1 characterized in that a toothed wheel is mounted on the end of the feed roller and ratchet pawls are provided to engage the teeth on said wheel with one pawl adapted to operate the roller one quarter of a turn in one direction and the other one quarter of a turn in the opposite direction and with independent relays for operating said pawls, said pawls pivotally mounted upon the opposite ends of a common rocker arm, and said pawls passing beyond the center of said ratchet with each movement.

10. A device as described in claim l characterized in that the upper and lower rollers are connected by a continuous belt arranged so that one roller winds as the other unwinds and the pulling action of the feed roller operates the rollers through the band.

11. A device as described in claim 1 characterized in that the upper and lower rollers are connected by a continuous belt arranged so that one roller winds as the other unwinds and the pulling action of the feed roller operates the rollers through the band and also characterized in that take-up pulleys are provided to take up the slack in said band to compensate for diiferent diameters of the upper and lower rollers.

12. A device as described in claim 1 characterized in that means is provided for winding the band on one roller as the band is drawn off of the other roller by the feed roller.

13. A device as described in claim 1 characterized in that the windows through which the names of the stations appear are recessed in the sides of the casing and lights are provided in said recesses which illuminate the band through the windows.

14. A device as described in claim 1 characterized in that the relay is operated by a contact positioned on a car adapted to be influenced by a contact adjacent the track and positioned beyond a station.

15. A station indicating device of the type adapted to indicate stations in railway cars or the like and in which a band travels past an opening, comprising a case adapted to be positioned preferably in the center of a car such as a subway car, windows in the opposite sides of said case and recessed in the sides thereof to correspond with a band travelling upward or downward in the center thereof, an upper roller upon which the upper end of the band is mounted, a lower roller upon which the lower end of the band is mounted, and a feed roller positioned between the upper and lower rollers and adapted to operate said band, means winding said band upon one roller as it is drawn from the other by the feed roller, said means operated by the roller from which the band is unwinding, and means resiliently engaging said band and taking up the slack resulting from the varying diierences in the diameters of the two rollers.

16. A device as described in claim 15 characterized in that the casing is formed with two of said bands and two sets of windows and means is provided for closing the windows corresponding with one band as the other band is used.

17. A device as described in claim 15 characterized in that a belt is provided for providing an alarm as the device changes from one station to another, said stations being indicated on said band.

18. A device as described in claim 15 characterized in that the upper roller is interchangeable to provide different routes.

19. A device as described in claim 15 characterized in that the feed roller is operated by a relay which in turn is operated by the operating means as the car leaves a station, said relay adapted to operate the feed roller to move said band downward as the car travels in one direction, and upward as the car travels in the opposite direction.

20. A device as described in claim 15 characterized in that the feed roller is operated by a relay which in turn is operated by the operating means as the car leaves a station, said relay adapted to operate the feed roller to move said band downward as the car travels in one direction, and upward as the car travels in the opposite direction, and said device also characterized in that advertisements are provided on continuously operated belts at the sides of said casing.

ANTON PARTMAN. A ANDREW PLIHCIK, JR. 

